Verizon’s CEO, Tony Melone, while speaking at the Credit Suisse Convergence conference, said that LTE smartphones are still on track for a first half of 2011 launch, as stated with the occasion of this year’s CES.

Truth is, despite all the rumors around the HTC Thunderbolt launch, there was no official word or indication for a specific date. “First half of the year is what we promised, first half of the year is still on track. So we don’t believe there are any new or surprising issues. And as I said, you are going to see LTE smartphones on the network as promised, before the first half  before the second half of the year, by the end of the second quarter”.

Asked about the rumored battery life issue, Melone indicated that all the issues are currently being worked without one being a key issue but battery — as with previous 3G models — is always a topic and optimization is due in order to provide an acceptable battery experience to users.

While this might as well be Verizon not giving out any information in order to have a surprise launch, it could also mean that we might have to wait for May/June to see Verizon’s next big event after today’s iPad 2 launch.